The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (commonly referred to as the ASTB) was developed to predict the success of students in aviation officer training programs. The Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard use various tests from the complete test battery as a primary selection instrument for their aviation programs.
The Naval Operational Medicine Institute (NOMI) controls the administration, verification, and management of test scores, and all materials related to the test battery.
The ASTB is primarily an aptitude test it assesses math skills and aptitude, the ability to extract meaning from written material, familiarity with mechanical concepts and simple machines, and the ability to perform mental rotations to determine the orientation of aircraft in 3-dimensional space.
The ASTB also measures your knowledge of aviation and nautical terminology, familiarity with aircraft components and function, knowledge of basic aerodynamic principles, and grasp of some flight rules and regulations. You can improve your performance on this part of the battery by studying. Examinees with aviation and (to a lesser extent) shipboard experience will typically do well. Both these concepts have proven to be excellent predictors of both training performance and success in training. If you walk in with some level of basic knowledge in these areas you'll be more likely to succeed as an aviator.
ASTB Test | Number of items | Time limit (minutes) |
---|---|---|
Math Skills Test (MST) | 30 | 25 |
Reading Skills Test (RST) | 27 | 25 |
Mechanical Comprehension Test (MCT) | 30 | 15 |
Spatial Apperception Test (SAT) | 25 | 10 |
Aviation and Nautical Information Test (ANIT) | 30 | 15 |
Aviation Supplemental Test (AST) | 34 | 24 |
The ASTB covers five types of items:
Your test results will be categorized as follows:
The formulas used to compute ASTB score components are proprietary information and will not be released by NOMI. The following general guidance may assist you in preparing for an ASTB test or retest.
There were a few flawed items in one of the subtests released with the new ASTB forms in 2004. NOMI caught these before any of the tests had been given, but several of the test booklets had already been mailed out to recruiters. Therefore, the flawed items were eliminated from the scoring key until updated forms were sent out. During the time period that the flawed items were in the field, examinee scores were calculated using fewer items so that examinee scores were not affected by the flawed items.
NOMI does not endorse any commercial study guides, but the guides might be helpful for examinees who want to acquire testing strategies, review and practice math principles and problems, familiarize themselves with military history and aviation terminology, and practice pacing on timed tests.
The Hartford Public Library has online study resources at http://hplct.org/ under Adult > Learner Services > Test Preparation Guides & Online Tutorials > Featured Resources > Military > ASVAB Core 1 and Core 2.
The Coast Guard Academy has copies of the ASTB on-hand to administer whenever someone might want to take it. You can also make arrangements to take it at most Navy and Marine Corps recruiting centers. However, when it is impractical for you to travel to one of these centers, your ESO may be able to request temporary custody of an exam for up to 30 days. (Whether your ESO can do so depends on your unit's ability to provide adequate security for the test materials and otherwise comply with ASTB administration requirements laid out in the Examiner's Manual.)
Your ESO can send a letter or an email to one of the contacts listed below at NOMI. Either letter or email must contain the name and SSN of the individual(s) requesting the ASTB, state who will be proctoring it, and how the test materials will be stored while in your ESO's custody. NOMI’s address is:
Naval Operational Medicine Institute (Code 341)
220 Hovey Rd.
Pensacola , FL 32508-1047
Email address is joyce.wrightwayne@med.navy.mil
Phone number is: (850) 452-2257 x1060
At some test sites, the ASTB is available in a web-based format called APEX.NET. The content on the computer-administered version of the test is identical to the paper-and-pencil version of the test. The web-based version of the ASTB allows for the administration of the exam anywhere in the world, but the system is operated on a secure server that is monitored and controlled by NOMI.
Even though some individuals feel more comfortable taking the paper version of the test, studies have found that there is virtually no difference in pass rates between the paper and computer versions of the test.
The paper-and-pencil version of the ASTB must be sent to NOMI to be scored. Unlike previous forms of the test, scoring manuals were not issued to the fleet for ASTB Forms 3, 4, and 5 in order to protect test security. Therefore, recruiters and other test administrators are no longer able to provide unofficial scores for the test. In order to obtain scores for the test examinees or recruiters may call 850-452-2257. After hearing the message, press Option 3, then Option 5 to obtain scores. An official score letter will be generated that can be sent be faxed mailed, or emailed to a military or education address.
Immediate scores on these ASTB forms can be generated using the APEX.NET web-based platform for ASTB administration. Ask your recruiter for more information, or have him or her contact NOMI at 850-452-2257 x1060.
You may only retake the battery three times. After the first time, you're required to wait at least 30 days before taking it again (i.e., you can't take it until the 31 st day after your first test). After the second time, you're required to wait at least 90 days before taking it for the last time (i.e., you can't take it until the 91 st day after your second test). Regardless of whether your re-test scores are higher than those of a previous test, only the most recent scores are considered for program eligibility.
If you take a re-test too early or if you take a re-test using a form that you've already taken, the scoring computer will consider it an illegal test. An illegal test is counted as one of the three tests you may take in your lifetime, even though the score is not counted as a valid score.
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Examiner's Manual for the United States Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (NOMI P-5098C)